December 2025

After 12 years as Secretary General of the World Union of Olympic Cities, how do you reflect upon this journey?

These 12 years have been an extraordinary privilege!
I have had the chance to work with inspiring city leaders, passionate partners, a global network driven by ambitions and cooperation, and a fantastic team. It has been a journey of learning, collaboration, and constant innovation! Never time to get bored, always looking ahead to strengthening the network and expanding its activities! Looking back, what stands out most is the shared commitment to turning legacy into something meaningful and alive.
I will always carry many special memories and a profound sense of gratitude to all the cities that have hosted our events: Montréal, for their trust as the host of our first summit abroad; Lake Placid, for the creativity behind this first ever additional trip; Tokyo, for hosting the summit just ahead of the Summer Olympic Games; and Sapporo, which hosted an additional trip only a couple of weeks after the devastating typhoon in Nagano. Grenoble, St-Moritz and Chamonix for other wonderful additional trips in winter cities!
I am also extremely grateful to Copenhagen, which hosted us in the midst of the pandemic; as well as Lillehammer, for hosting the Annual Meeting and the additional trip, that same year; Paris, ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games; and Amsterdam, the first Summer Olympic City to host an additional trip. My thanks also go to Seoul and PyeongChang for a truly special edition – my final one.
And last but not least, my hometown – Lausanne – always supportive and welcoming, proudly serving as the Olympic Capital!

What achievements are you most proud of during your mandate?

I am proud that we strengthened the World Union of Olympic Cities’s role as a trusted platform for cities to share knowledge, exchange best practices, reflecting on legacy strategies tailored to their local contexts in close collaboration with the IOC. The development of smartcities & sport – open to any city big, small, Olympic or non-Olympic interested in using sport as a tool for their development – is also an added value. Most importantly, we built – across these two networks – a community that values collaboration and long-term impact.

As you conclude your mandate, what are the next steps for you personally?

While this chapter is coming to an end, my commitment to cities, sport, and international cooperation remains strong. I am very pleased to continue in my role as Head of International Relations at the City of Lausanne and to further contribute to the development of Lausanne as the Olympic Capital. I look forward to supporting and strengthening new initiatives within the ecosystem, such as the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport. And in the short term, I am honored to have been appointed by the Executive Committee as Special Advisor for the year ahead, supporting the transition with the newly elected Secretary General, Pierre Eymann, who will begin in January, and whom I wish every success in this new role.
 
As we approach the end of the year, what are your hopes for the future of the Olympic Cities network, and your message for the New Year?

My hope is that the network continues to grow as a global reference for sustainable, innovative, and human-centred legacies. Hosting the Olympic Games is a unique opportunity to accelerate change. The Games provide cities with a powerful tool to implement projects that might otherwise take decades – whether in infrastructure, mobility, sport development, or social innovation. The challenges faced are significant, but collaboration and shared knowledge will remain key. I leave with great confidence in the networks, our partners and the team whose energy and creativity never cease to impress me.
As we approach a new year, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all of our members, partners, and friends. May the coming year bring renewed ambitions, meaningful collaborations, joyful motivation, shared successes, and inspiring projects that continue to give us both purpose and pleasure in all that we do.